Gene LeBell
Gene Lebell is a former American Judo Champion, professional Wrestler and movie stuntman. "Judo" Gene LeBell won the AAU National Judo championships in 1954 and 1955, both heavyweight and overall, while weighing only 165 pounds. LeBell also trained in Wrestling and other Martial Arts.
"Judo" Gene fought in the first televised Mixed Martial Arts bout in the United States. On Dec.2, 1963 Gene LeBell, fought the fifth ranked Middleweight Boxer in the world, Milo Savage in Salt Lake City Utah. The fight was billed as a "Boxer vs. Judo-Karate Black Belt" challenge match.
The fight was set for five, three minute rounds. The rules permitted Savage to use any kind of Punch, and "Judo" Gene LeBell could use any kind of Judo or Karate technique except for Kicks. Savage wore special bag gloves, with the fingers not covered (simular to modern MMA gloves), a Karate gi top and Boxing shorts. LeBell wore his Judo gi.
The fight ended in the fourth round when Gene LeBell executed a Harai Goshi (Sweeping Hip Throw) on Savage and followed it up with a Maka- Komi (landing on his opponent). Then "Judo" Gene choked Savage unconscious.
LeBell was declared the winner, and the crowd began throwing bottles and chairs into the ring, and a near riot ensued. The crowd didn't like seeing Savage, their hometown hero beaten.
The only thing that kept it from escalating into a full fledged riot was when another hometown hero, professional Boxer Jay Fullmer (brother of Boxers Gene and Don Fullmer) entered the ring to congratulate "Judo" Gene, and this quieted the crowd.
"Judo" Gene LeBell has taught Grappling to many well known Martial Artists, including Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Ed Parker, Bob Wall, Gokor Chivichyan, Karo Parisyan and Manny Gamburyan.
"Judo" Gene is just one of the nicknames that LeBell is known for. He is also known as "the Godfather of Grappling", and "the Toughest Man Alive."